What are you mahalo for?
As we move towards the end of November, people from many different cultures are celebrating their traditional times of harvest, feasting, reflection, and gratitude. As a program, we have a lot to be thankful for: our many volunteers and interns who bring their own gifts to our work throughout the year; the hard-working farmers who bring the fruits of the land to us each and every week to share with the community; all of the heritages and traditions that inspire our work and keep us moving towards healthy lands and healthy peoples; and all the wonderful people who bring laughter and good appetites to our Cafe.
Over the year, many of our friends and volunteers have shared with us what makes them feel grateful. Here are just a few things they are mahalo for:
- The ability to work the land and do an important job
- Feeling relaxed and calm in the garden
- Ho'oulu 'Aina and the opportunity to connect to the land
- Feeling welcomed into the space
- Learning about the history of Kaho'olawe
- Traditional birthing knowledge
- An open, natural space so close to the city
- Starting the day feeling bad, but feeling positive and happy after working on the land with others
- Learning about how to harvest produce
- The ability to contribute to the land in a small way, even late into pregnancy
- Learning about the traditions of makahiki
- Seeing health from a new point of view
- Life
- Aloha
- The love in the food we ate
- Learning how to use a shovel
- A safe and happy workday
- Working as a team
- "Many hands make light work"
- Gardening for the first time
- Familiar foods cooked new ways
- The wind
- Abundance
- Molasses, because it feeds microbes in the soil
- Feeling like part of the 'ohana/community
- Kalihilihiolaumiha
- Knowing where food grows
- Helping the community
As our year draws to a close, what are your grateful for?